Power transmission



July 9, 1946.

D. B. GARDINER POWER TRANSMISSION Filed Aug. 24, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l` Y.

July 9, 41946. D. B. GARDINER 2,403,519

' POWER TRANSMISSION Filed Aug.v 24, 1939* S'Sheets-Sheet 2' w M @Ammm n nl um Q ?.v 1 O- ri .Oml l. lm oom Ll: @v s: No. va. ma. Nw. -N 0G. v

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l Patented July 95 l19.48

Duncan Il.

Ltion o! Michigan application sin.: 24, insasernii-Nc. '231.6301 .y 'l

.an (CL 7) '1'v This, invention relates to power transmissions.

particularly to those of the type comprising'two `or more uid pressure energytranslating devices one of which may function as a pump and another The invention is more particularlyconcerned f with a power transmission system for driving a `load device separately or 'simultaneously at vanydesired'ra'te in each of two difierent'plane'srof movement. A systemv oi this character finds particular usefulness in operatin'such devices as a gun turret wherein the gun mount may. be pointed by separate handwheels-for the elevatingvmotion' 20 r 2fand the training motion may be selectiveiyoperate'din 4either directlon, and through the medium of separateV follow-upcontrol mechanismsfthe y' hydraulic transmission systems are caused to opy erate ina manner to make the gunr mount follow the movements imparted to each 'handwheelt Systems o! this character have been widely used on shipboard mounts and have beenffouudladi 'mirably suited for 'the purpose. Various at#- tempts have heretofore' been made vto apply'sim- .ilar transmission vsystexnsto gun mounts aboard aircraft which, due to the more stringent requirements of aircraft service. have heretofore Ibeen not entirely successful. Due to the very l great speed at which aircraft travel inthe pres-` ent state ofthe art the'requiredspeeds of turret operation are correspondinglyhigher, and in l addition,` the f light*I weight 'construction neces-v sary for aircraft has militated against the successful use of follow-up control systems for this classotservlce. e y

It is' anobject of the present invention to provide a power transmission system 4and control therefore particularly adapted for operating 'a load device in two different planes of movement;

which is simple and oi' light construction in which control oi' the load device .is provided without the use of follow-up mechanism while permitting substantially equal accuracy oi controll at high speed with less effort -byean oprator. n

Another object is toprov'ide in a transmission system of this character a control system' in which protection oithe drive apparatusqis ail'orded by imparting to the control-operating' handle a Aure. v

beruf, two ofthe arms as shown in lFlgurej l a slot Il therein through kwhich amay be teel"'whlch corresponds to'fthel being kposedony the2 driving apparatus `lati lIllltimcs Further objects and advantagesofthep invention will be apparentfrom the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings wherein j a preferred-form of presentv linvention is 'clearly `Vshown.

j" Figure l is a longitudinal cross sectiono econ# trol valve incorporating a -preierre crm ot the present; invention. Q Figure 2 is-a` crosssectional vi v iuustrsted in Figui-e1. the left-han notti lthe view being taken online 2a,:2 Aoili e while the right-hand portionis; takenline.; 2b-2b ofiFigure 3.,r

3 is across section.- Hline-l Fi ur'e2.-v "i Figure 41s a cross section outline Fih Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverses an aircraft fuselage incorporating a powe missionsystemconstructed in cord ce with Vthepresent invention. Y

` Figuren is a longitudinal sectionfoi,-thestrlicf- .ture illustrated in FigureV 5` showing dia1gram7 matically also the power 'transmissivzprrrcircuit.y v Flirurc 'I'isa cross section onlinelf-'I otfFigbeam I2 on which is ypivotallylfmounted -at i4 a rotatable turret structure generallyde'signated Il. A circular track il secured to the'cross I2 and toauxiliary cross'beamslil lomas/the path on which rollers 22 secured tothe undersur ace loi' thefturret structurel mayroll,

The turret structuremay comprise four'v or more radially extending arms secured to a hubmem-j carrying uprightl columns {28 having -pivo mountings 30 positioned. at' the.,upperfenilv ther ot. Secured tothetopofthecolumns 2l and supported 'by' light uprightsclnV on the. vozathenitwo radialarms 24 is a ring on whichis secured a transparent dome 3l of spherical contourfhaving1j- Vilred.

The pivotal mountin'gs 10 support, an f innerf cage Il comprisinga semicircular beam 42,f at right angles to which three'other semicircttlr. beams u, and Il are secured. Aringmember f Y. Il is secured tothe'uppercndsfoi the semicirj cularbeams thus prov/lidia: aY cagewhich Vaxis of the pivotal mountings f ventional type. may

mounting' 30,

rotary movementA ofy |8.3Within the cage ing control lever 94 actuation by an .operator positioned in the gunhand pivotal mounting tube "I I4,=the right-hand.

roughly hemispherical in shape and diametrically supported on the pivotal mountings 80. The cage 40 may be provided with a gunner's seat 52 and a gun 54 supported by an .arch member 56 and a forwardly extending strut 58. It will be seen that the gun and gunner may be trained in azimuth by rotation of the entire turret structure I8 about the pivotal axis I 4 and may be separately or'simultaneously moved in elevation about the 80 by operation of the pivoted cage 40 thus providing for aiming the gun in any direction within a spherical angle nof 180 degrees. .scribed is illustrative of which .the transmission The mechanism thus far dethe typefof load device system of the present in.- ventionis particularly per se iormsnopart of the present invention.

Y f- For thel purpose of training. the' turret struc;

` turey |,6,"a worm wheel mounted on the -fixed frame structure at the piv-v 60 may be stationarily otal .a'xisl4, and-a rotary uid motor 6 2 of con-l be mounted on the turret 'structure |6for driving a Worm 64 meshing with the `worm wheel 60. A suitable gear casing, not shown,` may befprovided for enclosing theworm gearing 60e-64. Y l' Y For the purpose of rotating the cage 40 inelevationa similar worm wheel 66 may berigidly trunnionfat'the pivotal secured -to the stationary afluidmotor 68.7being mounted on the cage 4 0vfor driving a worm 10 meshing with "fthe wormwheel 66,..a suitable. gear casing, not

fshown, being` also Vprovided for` these gears.. vFor theV purpose .of driving the fluid motor 62 and l68- ag' suitable Asource ofpressure fluid illustrated in Figure 6 as comprising a reservoir 12, "apurnp-H, .an'accumulator 16, and an unload- .ing `valve 18 may be provided at a suitable posi# tion in the main .portion of the aircraft. i .The details' of the pressure source forming no part "of `the present invention and being well known v I in theart.)further description thereof will be dispensed with,

Y it beingunderstood that pressure iluid isfsupplied through av delivery line 80,

the spent 'fluid being returned vto the reservoir` 12 through areturn line 82.`

The lines 80 and 82 extend through thev pivotal mounting |4, suitable swivel .connections` being provided at 84 and `86 ,to permit of necessary rotary movement and extend. through the pivotal mountings 30wheresimilar Swivel, connections 88 and190may be providedfor taking care ofthe cage 40 the lines 80 andv 82 extend to the pressure and tank portsof a duplex control valve. generally l designated as '92 4which is' mounted in the cage 40 somewhat forward of has a rearwardly projectpositioned for convenient the center thereof and nersseat 52. Fromrthe control valve 92 a pair of conduits 95 and 98 extend to the fluid motor i the iluid motor62. g'

, The vconstruction of the swivel connections at 30 is illustrated in Figure 7 from which it will be Y seen that the vupright 28 carries a hub |06 to which Ais rigidly; secureda tubulantrunnion. 08v

havingfan end caps-1| 0 statonarly.Securedihereto andy provided vwith a conduiti connection` I I2. l Concentric .with-r the; trunnion I 8 is ,an internal end; of whichlis secured 4 0 relative to turretV to a hollow end cap ||6 having a pipe connection Afriction bearings is a heads |24 and v|26 close the ends of the trunadapted to operate and A adiustabierestrictos lez commumcanngwim the member |94 is `together with a nections |28 and..|30.

= scribed except as mounted between the I2and the rotatable hub on the biased to neutral position by -means may be enclosed by an .also serves to close fthe left-hand ends of the valve bores.`

Uthe left-hand end space i v an adjustable restritor |18 providing a restricted nion '|08 and the tube I I4 and contain pipe con- The construction at the pivotal mounting |4 may be similar to that de- 4that the worm wheel 60 is shown Stationary hub on beam turret I8. Referring now to Figures 1 through 4, the construction of the `dual control valve 92 is there illustrated. `The valve comprises .a main body member |32 having two longitudinal bores |34 and |36 therein each of which is provided with a siidable spool |98 and |40 respectively. The bores and spools may be identical so that only one of them need be described. Thus, eachbore is provided vwith a central pressure portV |42, with motor ports |44 and |46 and with tank ports |48 and |50. The spool is provided with three lands |52, |54 and |56 normallyblocking thepressure and .tankports .from communication with the cylinmotor` ports |44. and.t |46. and are preferably so graduated as to provide agradual opening to flow in substantially direotproportion to -the degree of'movernent of .the spool away. from neutral position illustratedt lThelvalve.,spool may be a centering spring |60 together with suitable abutment washers |62 and |64 cooperating with shouldersl|66 and |68 associated with the body, and shoulders` |10 and `|12 associated with the spool. -The centering end cap |14 which An angular passage I18cor`nmunic`a'tes `between vof the valve bore and path for now between the end chamber and the tank port |50. vAt theright-hand end of the valve bore'an angular passage |80 connects to a similar tankport |48. E

The right-hand Aend of the spool is provided with a stem |84 having a ballend .|88 and projects through a packing |89 provided in an end plate |90 secured to the right-hand faceof the body member |32. The end plate |90 is provided with. a recess plane joining the axes of the two valve bores |34 and |88 and equidistant therefrom. A ball socket positioned in the recess |92 and second socket member |96 forms a ball socket for the reception of a ball '|98 integrally mounted onthe inner end of the control handle 94. The socket members |94 and |96 are retained in position by an end plateV 200 having a recess 202 in alignment with the recess |92 and secured in abutment with the plate |96. Suitable studs 204 secure the plates |90 and 200 to the left hand face of the body |32.

secured in` tnepalilss at right amines to each other and at right angles to the handle 94 are a pair of operating arms ,206jand 208 having"`bal1 u.eri`ds..2| 0.v The glatter' are connected to the ball nds' .lesion viyejsterwrls ist by' split oupnng forming aflinkV between the lballs |92-positioned to one sideof thel is universally pivoted at the ball |98 for a limited angular movement in any direction away from the neutral position illustrated.

, Referring to Figure 3, if the lever 94 be rocked inthe plane which includes the axis of the lefthand valve member and the ball |98, itwill be seen that the left-hand valve member only'will be operated and. may be shifted to the left in Figure 2 by moving the lever downwardly and to the left. or to the right in `Figure 2. by moving the similarly the cage movement causing'clockwise rot'ationfin Figure and the downward movement causing `counter'- clockwise rotation. Simultaneous movement of both the turret about its pivotand thecage about its vpivot may 'be'obtalnedxin vvarying degrees 1 by appropriate shifting 'of the control handle.

lever upwardly and to the right. Conversely, the

right-hand valve stem may be shiftedindepend'- ently of the left-'hand valve stem lby rocking of the handle 94 in a plane including the ball |99 and the axis of the right-hand valve.l By rocking of the handle 94 in a vertical plane in Figure 3, both valves may be actuatedequally and simultaneously in the same 'directions. By rockin the direction ofthe desired resultant movement. It will thus 'be kseen that the action of the-'control lever `94 is such as yto produce a rmotion of the gun kandgunners seat which ex# actly corresponds'both-in direction and in speed with the direction f and amount of shifting of the handle 94. y l

Duringall suchvmovements ofthe handle 8 4 the dash'pots formedrby the end chambers ofbores ing the handle in a horizontal plane in Figure 3 both may be actuated equally and simultaneously in opposite directions. Byrocking in 'any inter- The valve body |32 is provided with pipe connections `2|4 and 2| 6 communicating Awith the motor ports |44 and |46. A'transverse bore 2|8 ,(see Figures 2 and 4) connects a pressure line pipe connection229 with the pressure port |42`in both valve bores. Similar transverse bores 222 and 224 connect thetank ports |48 and |69 ln both valve bores and are connected togetherby The bores 222 and 224 are providedwith external pipe connections at 228 and 239, the latter vbeing plugged.

In operation, assuming that'the pump 1 4 is operating and that the accumulator 16 is filled maintaining a supply` of oil under pressure for delivery to the line 89 as required, wlthjthe han-,

die 94 in the neutral position lllustrated, both valve spools |38 and' |49 will remain in neutral and, no oil will flow Ato 'either motor`62 ormotor 68, the unloading valve servingl to bypass the pump delivery to tank at negligible pressure whenever the accumulator is filled.

If it is desired to vswing the turret structure I6l about the axis 4 without swinging the cage 49 about the'axis 39, the control handle94 may be shifted to oneside or the other, let usy say tothe left in Figure 5 orupwardly and tothe left in Figure 3, thereby shifting the spool |38 to the right in Figure l admitting pressure oil from the delivery line 99 through connection 229, passage 2|8, port |42' of valve' bore |34, port |46, connection 2|6, and` conduit |99 lto motor 62.

by the action of the worm 64 on the stationary worm wheel 69. Oil is discharged from the motor through line 93, connection 2|4, ports |44 and |48, passage 222, connection 228 and conduit 82 to tank. The speed of turret movement will depend upon the distance to which thelever 94 is shifted, that is. the farther the lever is shiftedto the right, the faster the turret will rotate.

. The turret will continue rotation at a speed corresponding to the angular displacement of the lever 94 and may be stopped by permitting `the lever to shift to neutral position.

Opposite movement of the turret I6 is produced by shifting the lever 94 to the right vin Figure 5 or downwardly and to theright in Figure 3, flow in this case being reversed and directed to the opposite side of the motor 62 through conduit 98.

, mediate plane, both valves may be actuated simultaneously but to different degrees.

V of acceleration the operatorl tries to lgive to the-- gun mount as a whole;A Inasmuch `as the prin- .a longitudinal central bore, 22 6 (see Figure l).

|94 and |86'and by the restrlctors |18 and |82 act to controlthe speed at whichV the handle- '94 maybe shifted. Thusythe more rapidly han-` dle 94 is shifted,-the greater lsthe resistance vimparted to movement thereof by the oil being forced through'the restrlctors |18 and -|82.,;,In this way the feel"-ofj'the handle 841s made more or less stiff inproportion to the amount cipalload on the uid motors is VVarlinertiaload and sin'cethe force required tomovel the load is proportional to the productrof its mass'and j the acceleration imparted thereto,` it will beV seen that the feel" or resistance .to movement of vvthe "handle 94 varies 1in substantial accordance be -imposed on the fluid withthe load which isto motors 62 and 66. y

yThis results in a control whereby the operator is apprised of he efl'ort required to moveA the vgun mount in accordance withV his wishesv and n gives a feel at the control handle muchthe .same as if hisjeiiorts were appliedk directly' in shifting the mount. This is particularly advan :1

tageous where,v as in aircraft, the permissible weight of the driving mechanism is' held down' to a minimum and where accordingly the. driving equipment might be-easilyoverloade'd if the.v resistance tomovement jof theHcontrol handle were thesame lwhether it be' moved rapidlyor slowly. By vthe provision of `thisvariable 're- 'Ihe turret I6 is'accordingly driven clockwise when viewed from the top in Figure 5 sistance to -movement of the control handle, there is in practical effect achieved a positive limitv to the maximum acceleration which can be imparted to thegun mount, which limit is deterw mined bythe maximum manual effort whicha given operator is able to applyv toward shifting theV control handle. Adjustment-of this resist- 'ance may be varied v'to suit operators of `diier ent muscularstrength by suitable adjustment of the restrlctors |18 andi 82.. Y.

Whilethe. form Vof embodiment of tion as herein disclosedconstitutes va preferred form, it is to be understood that otler forms might be adopted, all coming within the `scope o1' the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a hydraulic powerjtransmission system the combination with a source of pressurel fluid and a pair oi" fluid motors for driving a load device in each 0i' two directions Ain perpendicular planes. a pair-of control valves arranged side by side and each having a longitudinally'vshiftable operating stem, and a single operating lever universally pivoted on a center spaced from a plane including the lines of travelv of said stems, said operating lever having an operatingA connection 49 may be rotated about the trunnions by upward ordownward move ment of the lever l94 in Figure 5, the upward the inven--Iv t device.-

mediate' planes tovariably shift both stems in dinerent proportion. c

r2. In a hydraulic power transmission;v system.

l member, andV means nf.. macabro of the member away from neutral position whereby the ratey of movementV of the member deter-.vl

mines the acceleration of the' load device, a manu'ally operable deviceyfor shifting the control for resisting movement 'of A the control member-witha force which increases with increased speed the combination with a source of pressure fluid f and a pair of iiuid motors vicein each of two directions in perpendicular for driving a load de-y planes, 'a pair oi' control valves karranged side by sideand each having ar longitudinally shii'table operating stem; and a single operating lever universally pivoted including the lines of travel of said stems, said 'posed on the' fluid motor of movement of the control memberwherebythe feelf of the manual device is in generaly proportion tothe load yimduring all'movements of the manual deviceg' 6. In Va 'hydraulic power transmission system the "combination with' a source of pressure uid on a center spaced from a plane a operating lever having an operating connection with each stem 'wherebythe'lever may be rocked in a. plane including the line ot travel of one stem to shift said stem without shifting the other or vice versa andmay be rocked .in other interme- `Vof a neutral position the direction vand rate of vdiate planes to variably shift both stemsin difc ferent proportion, said valve being mounted with the operating lever oriented for rocking movement in the same directionsin space as the load 3. In a hydraulic' power transmission system the combination with a source of pressure duid and a pair of iluid motors for driving a load device in each of two directionsy in perpendicular planes, a pair of fluid flow-controlling members for selectively directing iluidirom the source to' said motors arranged side by side and each having a longitudinally shiftableoperating stem, and a single operating lever universallyplvoted on a center spaced from a plane including the lines of travel ofr said stems, said operating lever having.` an operating connection with each stein wherebythe lever may be rocked in'a cluding the line of travel of one stem to shift said stem without shifting the Aother or vice versa and may be rocked in other intermediate planesto variably shift both stems in different proportion.

4. A dual valve for controlling iluid flow to separate circuits simultaneously and independently comprising in combination a pair of control valves arranged side by side and each havand a iluid motor for driving van inertia load in either direction at variable speeds of ay control valve shiftable in varying degree to either side for selectively controlling in proportion tothe degree o valvek away i'rom` neutral position whereby` the ratey ofk movement of the valve determines ythe acceleration of the load device, a. manually yoperable device for` shifting the valve, Vand means forresisting movement of the valve with a force which increases with increased speed ofmovement of the valve whereby the feel" of the man i ual device is in general proportion vto the load imposed on Vthe fluid motor during all movements of the manual device. ,Y Y '1. In a hydraulic power transmission system the combination with a source of pressurefluld f and a fluid motor for driving "an inertia load in in proportion to kthe degree of movement of plane ining a longitudinally shiftable operating stem, and A a single operating lever universally pivotedton a center spaced from a plane including the lines of travel of said stems, said operating lever having an operating connection with each stem whereby the lever may be rocked in a plane including the line of travel of one stem to shift said stem without shifting the other or vice versa and may be rocked in other intermediate planes to variably shift both stemsA in different proportion.

5. In a hydraulic `power transmission system the combination with a source of pressure fluid and a iluid motor for driving an inertia load in either direction at variable speeds of a control member shiftable in varying degree to either side of a neutral position for selectively controlling the direction and rate of iluid flow to the motor in proportion to the degree of movement either direction at variable speeds of'a control member shiftable in varyingv degree toeither side of a neutral position for selectively controlling ythe direction and rate ofrfiuid flow to the motor the member away from neutral position whereby the rate of 'movement of the member determines the acceleration of the load device, a manually operable device for shifting the control member, and dashpot meansassociated ber and including a uid to pass all iiuid flow to or restrictor connected both directions. d `8..In a-hydrau1ic powertransmission system' the combination with a source of pressure fluid and a fluid motor for driving an inertia load in eitherl direction at variable speeds of a`control member shiftable in varying degree to eitherv side of a neutral position for selectively controlling the direction` and rate of fluid flow to the motor in proportion to the degree of movement of the member away from neutral position whereby the rate of movement of the member determines the acceleration ofthe load device, a manually operable device for shifting the control member, and means including a dashpot for resisting movement of the control member with a. force which increases with increased speed of movement of the control member whereby the feel` of the manual device is in general proportion to the load imposed on the uid motor during all movements of the manual device. i

' DUNCAN B. GARDINER.

iiuld flow to the 'motor f movement oi' the with said control memfrom the dashpot in, 

